Roger Jon Ellory was born in Birmingham, England, at Sorento Hospital, which was later demolished; he insists there is no direct evidence that the two events are related. After being orphaned at the age of seven, he lived at a boarding school until he was sixteen and later pursued interests in graphic design, photography, and music.

R. J. Ellory began his first novel in 1987, and now has eight novels to his credit, all of which are set in America. His 2009 novel, A Quiet Belief in Angels, was an international bestseller and has been translated into 14 languages. Mr. Ellory is the recipient of multiple prizes and awards for his work.